DENVER (AP) — Julius Randle scored a season-high 34 points and the New York Knicks took advantage of Nikola Jokic’s absence to win in Denver for the first time in 16 years, rallying past the Nuggets 106-103 on Wednesday night.
Randle hit 1 of 2 free throws to snap a tie with 50.6 seconds left. Jalen Brunson added 21 points, including two free throws with 10.5 seconds remaining.
As Randle coughed in the locker room with a bug that’s going through the team, Brunson was asked the key to the comeback.
“Julius Randle and Julius Randle,” Brunson said of the forward who also came up with a diving steal and feed to Brunson for a dunk in New York’s frantic finish. “When Julius is doing that, it’s big-time and we all feed off that.”
The Knicks, who allowed 145 points to Oklahoma City at home Sunday, handed a team its first home loss for the second straight night after winning in Utah on Tuesday. Denver’s loss left the NBA with no unbeaten teams at home.
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, left, drives past Denver Nuggets forward Jeff Green during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)